Air compressor



Dec. 27, 1949 D, E, wlLLARD v 2,492,547

AIR COMPRESSOR lFiled May 3, 1945 s sheets-sheet 1 Z3 30 I Z7 Z/ 55 ZZ Dea 27, 1949 D. E. WILLARD AIR COMPRESSOR JFiled may s, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed- May 3, 1945 D. E. WILL/KRD` AIR COMPRESSOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 6 .yflfare/ey- Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Donald E. Willard, Danville, Ill.

Application May 3, 1945, Serial No. 591,752

My invention relates to air compressors and more particularly to a demountable unit which can be readily attached to the power take-off shaft of a variety of tractors, or generally any source of power.

Compressors of the type contemplated by this invention are customarily used by farmers as a source of compressed air for the tractorv tires Whose pressure is desirably varied for maximum traction in accordance with the nature and Vcondition of soil over which the tractor operates,

Claims. (Cl. 230-39) 2 t posite ends of the bearing I0, respectively. If desired, wear rings I5a may be interposed between the ends of the journal and the flange I3 and nectingr rod I1 to a piston I8 that is reciprocable and also for spraying, and may also be used by contractors of various kinds, the military service, and industrial concerns.

Cardinal requirements of such compressors are that they be rugged in construction while embodying simplicity of design which is reflected in low manufacturing costs, and, further, that they may be easily disassembled and assembled for purpose of repair and replacement.

It is therefore one object of my invention to provide an air compressor of the character indicated which can be fabricated from simply shaped parts and quickly assembled by unskilled labor.

A further obj ect is to devise a compressor which is equipped with a novel arrangement vof valves Fig. l is a sectional elevation of my improved compressor.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing an a1- ternative method of constructing the compressor cylinder.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, .sectional elevation of the lower portion of the compressor, as viewed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a planview of the outlet valve housing. Fig. 6 is a section along the line 3--3 in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a View of the outlet valve housing looking in the direction of the arrow 'l in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a plan View of the outlet valve. Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral Ill designates a shell bearing that may be made from tubing having an appropriate wall thickness and in which rotates a sleeve journal I I that is inwardly formed with driving lugs I2 for driving connection with the end of va splined, power take-off shaft (not shown) over which the journal is slipped. Endwise movement of the journal re1- ative to the bearing I0 is prevented by a flange I3 formed on one end of the journal and a ring i4 that is snapped into a groove 5 at the 4op'- vposite end, the flange I3 and ring I4 abutting opina cylinder I9. The `cylinder may be formed by deep drawing Ya smooth, steel plate to form a cylindrical side wall 20 and an annular, inward flange 2| at the lower end of the cylinder, as viewed in Fig. 1. It is contemplated that the cylinder may be formed from tubing of appropriate gage and inside diameter which is hammered, or rolled, or otherwise deformed at one end to provide the flange 2|. A cylinder made in accordance with either of these methods does not require any machining to provide a smooth, workingV surface for the piston since the original surface of the plate or tube is entirely adequate, considering the nature of the service. The flange 2| rests on a shelf 22 and is fastened thereto by means of a thimble 23 that extends through the flange and shelf and is provided, on its upper end with a flange y24 thatv overliesthe cylinder flange 2|. This assembly is clamped to thev shelf by a nut 25 threaded on the thimble 23 below the shelf. Sealing washers 26-26 may beinterposed between the flange 2|, and the flange 24 and shelf 22, respectively, to provide an air tight connection.

The head of the piston I8 is provided with a plurality of air inlet passages 21 whose lower ends are'closed during the compression stroke by a valve 28 carried byv a stem 29 that is slidable through the piston head and is encircled above the head by a helical spring 30 whose ends abut the head and a washer 3| on the stem, respectively. The spring 30 yields sufciently during each suction stroke of the piston to permit the valve 28 to open and air to flow into the compression chamber of the cylinder.

During the compression stroke of the piston,

the valve 28 closes and the compressed air is forced through a valve mechanism in the thimble.

Specifically, the thimble 23 is chambered as at 32 downwardly from the top thereof to receive,

as by a forced fit, an inverted cup 33 whose top wall includes an aperture 34 (see Figs. 5 to 8, in-

clusive) which communicates with the ecmpres-k lifted to close the aperture 34 and is moved to the open position shown in Fig. 1 during compression strokes, the aperture 34 and the marginal opening between theA edge of the valve 35 and the side wallof the cup, or either of these factors, being adjusted to insure a sufficient throttling action on the discharging air to provide anA adequate compression of.' the air.. Air passing-into'the chamber 32 is discharged'through a communicating passage 31 in the thirnble 23 which may be extended to provide a nipple for' connection to an air hose. Y

The shelf 22 is bent laterally from a plate arm 39 which is apertured as at 40 to snnglyreceives the bearing Ii), the arm extending, radially from.

the bearing. The arm 39 is held' against movement axially of the bearing by annular-ridges: 4 I-dl projecting outwardly of the bearing closely adjacent theopposite, faces of the arm: and which be formed. by oisetting; the wall of the-bearing. In. order to insure that-thearmr-Bvvill not rotate around the bearing, each-faceofthe-arm is provided with a group of circumterentially spaced notches. 42., the group in one -face being ,circumferentiallydisplaced. thelgroup in the other face, as shown -in- Fig:- 2, andthe--adjacent portions oftheV ridges-M are forced into and establishaninter-locking relation with the notches,

Lubricant. fittings 43 of wellknown type may be .mounted in the bearing l--,. the crank pin-end ofthe connecting. .rod H, and-in'- the wall oi-the cylinder- LS` for connection with any suitable mechanismfor forcer feeding lubricant, the arm 39y being apertured-at- 44; to, provide access to; the tting which is attached tol the cylinder-wall..

, Inuse, the journal Il-is merelyY slipped; over the. end1 of, a `powerA takeofshaft.A and the arm 3,9: is anchoredag-ainst anyj tendency to rotate With-the jour-nal by astemng chains or; cables to accover-rient part fof the tractor andtoears 4.5 provided-on the arm-'319;V 'Ihe-bearngsuriaces 4,9 and1 5o within -the journal AHy are bored con centriowith the-outerI surface of the journalamd provide an adequate bearing, forspaeedf portions 011 the power take-.oit shatt;

- In Fig.. 3` is illustrated arr alternativecylinder design in which acylindrieaflfshell. 4151 for-ms the side wall of the cylinder and secured touche-.end thereof is a @up .ha-vins; ai-eylindri'carpcrtion 4il whichl encrclesand closely fits.7 the:l shell-46; i and an annular,.- in-ward- Ela-nge 48 which corresponds shape and:V function to-t-hefflange V2 l I claim:

l. An air compressor comprising' a bearingV member, arr arm extendinggenerally radially from the member and having ar part constituting an---extension thereof to provide a laterally dis-- posed shelf., a cylindricalshell having at one end an inward, annular ila-nge seated' on thenshelf, a.v thiinbleextending through thm and having aflange engaging the.--irrnersurfaces-of the' shell tia-nge. nut means threadeon the thirnbl'e4 whereby the-shell flange i'scl'amrd'. between-'the sheli and thimhle han-ga. a piston operable the' shell, and: a driving element jhurnaled in the member and, ac -aptedZ for' connection,- t'o a; Vpower 4 through the head thereof which opens during suction strokes of the piston and closes during compression strokes, the thiinbl'e having an air Vpassage providing an exit'tor the'compressed air,

5 valve means in the thirnble passage arranged to provide only an exhaust flow of air, and a driving. element journaled in the member and adapt- 'ed forv connection to a power shaft, the element having mencentric connection with the piston.

air compressor comprising a bearing member; an'v arm extending generally radially triomf-the, member and having a laterally disposed shelf, a cylindrical shell having at one end an inward. annular ilange seated .on the .-shelt, a

thimblextendihg, through the shelf and. having a ,flange engaging the inner surface of the shell 1Tang e. nut means. threaded. .on the thimble whereby the shell flange is clampedbetween-the shelf and the thimble ange,. a piston operable in the, shell' liavingV aV valve. controlled .passage through the head thereof which is open during Suction strokes of .the-piston. and is. closed. during compression stroken. the, thimble Vhaving, an airpassage providing ener-rit for the4 compressed a-ihn valve having a weight. such it, is

moved' to close thethimbl'e passage during snc.- t'ion strokes oi' the piston and opens during .conipression strokes. and adrivi'ng clement .jcurnaled themeinber andadapted im: connection tol a power shaft, the clement having connection with piston.

. 4*.. air compressor comprising. a. sleeve-bearing, a radial arm through which the bearing. ex..- tends,Y .in tight itti'ng engagement. therewith, the

sl'eevebearing having, ofl'set, peripheral forma CODS. .Conllating Opposite sidesof. to preventi movements. thereof axially .of the. bearing. n: shelf projecting laterally from the arm, a cylinder having. one end seated on. the. shelf, a. pis- 40 tonpperable inthe cylinder, and. a driving. ele-- arm for preventing relative rotationandmovements of the arm axially oi thebeam'ng, a shelf projecting laterally from the arm,l a cylinder hav ingoneend seated von the-shelf, ar piston operablev ink the cyl inder., and a driving. element journalied injthe' bearing. .and adapted, for connection. to a power shaft, the element having an eocenw tricconnection with the piston. Y

DONALD EL VQZI-LlllARD- REEnnnNens CITED- c The-following references are-of record inl the file ofthis pater-rt:v Y

UNITED-'STATES' PATENTS shaft, the element having: a crank pini connected' Numbep Name Data Y tO-fihe Dist@ cauti :Burie1gh. July. 27,1859.. 2:.. air compressor comprising a bearing: 65 896.902 Dyblj-e 1F25 1903, member, an karm extending generally radially' 131502977 Strickland jN- z Aut-jg.. Zei-1915;- from the member-and having alaterallydisposed' 1.5301799 Murray May 3l, '1921 shelf, a cylindrical: shellI having. at onefvendan bwl-,796 Carrey nA-1111.2J 1929- inward, annular nange seated. pn-ether:shelf', a 1 957.526 Brown- Maly-193gtthimbleextend-ing through the shelf `andz having: 232553371 P5111, et al Deel 194.1. ay harige-engaging the innen surface ofthe shell? 28321596 pierce, JL m 'July 7:11942] flange, nutmeans;` threadedon: the. thimble. FOREIGN PATENTS whereby the. shell4 flanges-is: clamped betweei1 ery f shelf' and thimble flange., a piston .operable-in Number VCountryv Datel the shell having a valve controlled passage` 75 68131092 France 19305 

